Engine makers meet with government officials in Washington

Marine engine executives met in Washington, D.C., this week with top leaders of the House of Representatives and the Trump administration to discuss the effects of legislation and regulations on recreational boating.

The companies that attended included Yamaha, Mercury Marine, Torqeedo, Indmar, Evinrude and Volvo Penta. The engine leaders met with House Speaker Paul Ryan, Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt and his senior staff, and U.S. Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), chairman of the Environment Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

With the EPA’s imminent announcement of the renewable volume obligations, which set the amount of corn-based ethanol in the fuel supply, engine executives impressed on the EPA the marine engine issues with ethanol blends above 10 percent, the lack of consumer education leading to misfueling and the promising results of alternatives such as biobutanol.

The NMMA said the EPA meeting focused on efforts to achieve concrete regulatory reforms for marine engine manufacturers that reduce burdensome testing and paperwork while maintaining strong engine compliance and ensuring a strong, globally recognized EPA.